Platelet-Rich Plasma: Three Decades and Ongoing, Do We Have a Conclusion?

The editorial from March 2019 discussed the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in various clinical fields over the past 30 years. PRP, a biologic autologous product, was found to expedite healing with minimal side effects, making it a safe and well-tolerated choice for many physicians and patients. However, no consensus had been reached regarding PRP preparation, needed volume, the use of an activator, number of sessions, and the period between the sessions in different clinical scenarios. The FDA had cleared many PRP preparation systems, but had not attempted to regulate activated PRP. Major obstacles to standardizing PRP included determining the main bioactive components responsible for its clinical effects and understanding the inter-individual variability of growth factors and cytokines production. The authors concluded that more clinical studies with longer follow-up periods were needed to understand the best ways to use PRP to improve healing.